Play toy



y- 1969 R. J. SEEWALD 3,446,510

PLAY TOY Filed Dec. 2, 1966 Sheet of3 PLAY TOY Sheet Filed Dec. 2.. 1966 I y 27, 1969 v R. J. SEEWALD 3, 1

PLAY TOY Filed Dec. 2. 1966 Sheet 3 of s Patented May 27, 1969 3,446,510 PLAY TOY Ralph J. Seewald, 1 Janvier Ave., New Castle Manor, New Castle, Del. 19720 Filed Dec. 2, 1966, Ser. No. 598,698 Int. Cl. B62k 13/00 US. Cl. 280-71 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Background of the invention.

The present invention relates to a play toy and more particularly to a play toy arrangement convertible to a variety of toy vehicles.

In the past, play toys of the convertible type have been proposed but these arrangements are characterized by the difiicult assembly procedures necessary to convert from one toy to another. Wilson Patent 2,768,834 discloses such an arrangement wherein a vast number of components are provided to construct several different play toys. Wilsons vehicle construction kit is complicated and requires the use of tools to assemble the various toy forms. Thus, the assembling operation must be performed by an adult rather than the children using the toys. For this and other reasons, children are less interested in convertible toys of a complicated nature.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a simple play toy arrangement that is easily convertible to a variety of toy vehicles.

Brief summary of the invention In accordance with the present invention, a convertible play toy arrangement comprises a chassis having a fixed wheel assembly attached to one end thereof and a retractable wheel assembly attached to the other end. The retractable wheel assembly is connected for movement between retracted and nonretracted positions, and a locking element is provided for maintaining that assembly in each of its positions in which it provides either a trailer or an independent wheeled vehicle. A hitch is provided for use in conjunction with trailer type toys. Attaching devices on the chassis are provided for releasably securing elements to the chassis for readily adapting it to various vehicle forms.

Additionally, the convertible play toy arrangement comprises a plurality of interchangeable elements that cooperate with the attaching devices on the chassis to produce the various vehicle forms. A handlebar element may be releasably attached to the chassis to produce a scooter and the scooter can be converted to a play car by attaching a seat element to the chassis. Moreover, when the retractable wheel assembly is in its retracted position a wheelbarrow can be produced by releasably attaching to the chassis a box-like enclosure element with handles. The enclosure forms a trailer or cart when the retractable wheel assembly is retracted and the chassis is coupled to another vehicle, such as a tricycle, for example. Once the chassis is so coupled additional elements can be utilized to assemble other vehicle forms, such as a wrecker truck construction. Further, the enclosure may also be arranged to form a baby seat so a child can be positioned within the seat and wheeled around by the person propelling the tricycle.

Brief description of the drawings Novel features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to one skilled in the art from the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein similar reference characters refer to similar parts and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a chassis according to the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the chassis shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an end elevational view of the chassis shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is an isometric perspective view of a scooter according to the present invention;

FIGURE 5 is an isometric perspective view of a play car according to the present invention;

FIGURE 6 is an isometric perspective view of a wheelbarrow according to the present invention;

FIGURE 7 is a side elevational view of a trailer according to the present invention;

FIGURE 8 is an isometric perspective view of a covered wagon construction according to the present invention;

FIGURE 9 is an isometric perspective view of a wrecker truck construction according to the present invention; and

FIGURE 10 is an exploded isometric view of a baby seat construction according to the present invention.

Detailed description Referring in more particularity to the drawings, FIG- URES 1-3 illustrate a chassis 10 comprising a body member 12 and a pair of spaced apart Wheel assemblies 14, 16. As shown in FIGURE 3, the body member 12 has an inverted U-shaped cross-section formed by a pair of side wall portions 18 interconnected by a top portion 20. Each side wall portion 18 has a series of apertures 22 at one end thereof for securing the rear wheel assembly 14 to the side walls of the body member. Each aperture in the series is vertically spaced apart from an adjacent aperture so the wheel assembly 14 can be connected to the body member at several positions spaced from the top portion 20. Once the height of the chassis is selected, an axle 24 is inserted through an appropriate pair of apertures. A wheel 26 is positioned on the axle 24 and locking nuts 28 are screwed onto the ends of the axle to secure it to the body member.

As shown in FIGURES l-3, the rear wheel assembly 14 also provides fastening structure for a pair of footrests 30. Each footrest has an upwardly extending portion 32 and an outwardly extending portion 34 upon which the feet of the vehicle occupant can be positioned. One footrest 30 is secured to each side wall portion 18 of the body member by inserting the axle 24 through one of a series of apertures 36 located in the upwardly extending portion 32 of the footrest.

The front wheel assembly 16 is movable between a retracted position, as shown in phantom in FIGURE 1, and a nonretracted position, also shown in FIGURE 1. The assembly 16 has a bifurcated wheel mount 38 pivoted to the underside of the top portion 20 of the body member 12 by a hinge arrangement 40. An axle 42 is fixed to the wheel mount 38 adjacent its free end, and a wheel 44 is rotatably secured to the axle.

A locking element 46 is provided for holding the front wheel assembly in its retracted and nonretracted positions. The locking element may take the form of an elongated pin 48 that extends through apertures 50 in the side wall portions 18 of the body member 12, as well as apertures 52 located in the bifurcated wheel mount 38. When the front wheel assembly is in its nonretracted position the apertures 50 and 52 register with one another and the pin 48 is simply inserted through these apertures to anchor the wheel mount relative to the body member. The wheel assembly 16 can also be locked in its retracted position by passing the pin 48 through the apertures 54 in the side wall portions 18, and the apertures 56 in the bifurcated wheel mount 38. These apertures, as well as an aperture '58 in the wheel 44, are arranged to register with each other when the front wheel assembly is retracted to thereby provide a continuous passageway for the locking pin 48. The pin 48 may include a stop 60 for preventing its removal when the stop is illustrated as shown in FIGURE 2. On the other hand, when removal of the locking pin is desired the stop 60 is rotated to a position in line with the locking pin to enable the pin to be withdrawn.

The front end of the body member 12 has a hitch 62 for coupling the chassis 10 to another vehicle, such as a tricycle 64, for example, as shown in FIGURE 7. The hitch 62 may take the form of a downwardly extending stub shaft 63 that simply fits into the complementary hitch structure 66 on the framework 68 of the tricycle.

The body member 12 of the chassis 10 also carries internally threaded fasteners 70 and 72 fixed to the underside of the top portion 20 of the body member. Suitable openings 74 and 76 are provided in the top portion 20 adjacent the fasteners to facilitate conversion of the carriage unit into other toy vehicles, as explained more fully below. The body member has a slot-like opening 78, the purpose of which is also explained below.

According to the present invention, the chassis 10 shown in FIGURES 13 provides the basic component for a wide variety of toy vehicles. Even by itself, with the front wheel assembly locked in its nonretracted position, the chassis 10 can be use-d as a skate board or coaster, for example. Various structural elements are provided for converting the chassis 10 into a variety of toy vehicles. The elements are interchangeable and designed for easy connection to and removal from the chassis.

FIGURE 4 illustrates a scooter toy 100 which is constructed by simply securing a handlebar element 102 to the chassis 10. In this application of the invention, the retractable wheel assembly is locked in its nonretracted position by the locking pin 46 which extends through the aligned apertures in both the bifurcated wheel mount 38 and the side wall portions 18 of body member 12. The handlebar element 102 has an externally threaded terminal portion 104 which is simply positioned within the aperture 74 in the top portion 20 of the body member 12 and then turned so that the threaded terminal portion engages the internal threads of the fastener 70 fixed to the underside of the top portion.

FIGURE illustrates another construction according to the present invention wherein the chassis is adapted for use as a play car 110. A handlebar element 112 similar in design to the handlebar 102 of FIGURE 4, but somewhat smaller, together with a seat element 114 are releasably attached to the chassis 10 to produce the play car. The handlebar element 112 has a threaded terminal portion 104 which is releasably attached to the top portion 20 of the body member 12 by turning the handlebar 112 into the fastener 72 fixed to the top portion of the body member. The seat element 114 includes a length of tubular stock (not shown) havin a threaded terminal portion that cooperates with the internal threads of the fastener 70. The tubular portion of the seat 114 is simply turned into the fastener 78 to secure the seat to the chassis.

A wheelbarrow construction 120 is illustrated in FIG- URE 6 and includes a box-like enclosure 122 detachably secured to the body member 12 of the chassis 10, as explained more fully below. The enclosure 122 has opposed upstanding side wall elements 124 interconnected by a bottom wall element 126. A pair of internal slots 128, one in each side wall 124 provide guide means for an end wall element 132, as shown in FIGURE 6.

Each side wall 124 also carries handle elements 134 for the wheelbarrow arrangement 120. Each handle element comprises a tubular portion 136 fixed to the exterior of one of the side walls by a pair of clamps 138. A handle portion 140 telescopes into the tubular portion 136 and can be urged into that portion by a biasing arrangement, such as a spring or a length of resilient material, for example. The wheelbarrow arrangement also includes struts 142 releasably attached to the bottom wall 126 of the box-like enclosure 122. Each strut can have a flattened upper portion 144 that is force fitted into a metal loop 146 anchored to the underside of the bottom Wall 126.

In use, when the wheelbarrow arrangement 120 is assembled, the retractable wheel assembly 16 is locked in its retracted position by the locking pin 46, as explained above. The handle portions of each handle element 134 is then drawn outwardly from its associated tubular portion 136. When the handles are grasped by the user of the wheelbarrow and raised slightly, they bind against the tubular portions 136 to prevent them from being telescoped back into the tubular portion 136 by the biasing arrangement.

FIGURE 7 shows the chassis coupled to the hitch 66 on the tricycle 64. The retractable wheel assembly 16 is locked in its retracted position and the box-like enclosure 122 is releasably attached to the body member 12 of the chassis 10 to produce a trailer or cart 150. In this application of the invention the end wall 132 is positioned between the side walls 124 and the handle portions 140 are in their telescoped position. The enclosure 122, as shown in FIGURES 6 and 7, also has an internal vertical slot 152 in each side wall at one end thereof. The slots 152 serve to secure another end wall (not shown), similar in design to end wall 132, to the enclosure.

The box-like enclosure 122 has a tongue 154 fixed to the underside of the bottom wall 126, at one end thereof. The underside of the bottom wall 126 also carries a pair of spaced apart downwardly extending lugs 156 and each lug has an aperture 158 adjacent its free end. The box-like enclosure 122 is releasably attached to the body member 12 of the chassis 10 by inserting the tongue 154 into the slot-like opening 78 in the top portion 20 of the body member. With the box-like enclosure so positioned the lugs 156 straddle the body member 12 and the apertures 158 in the lugs align themselves with the apertures 52 in the side walls of the body member. Thus, when the front wheel assembly is locked in its retracted position the locking pin 46 extends through the apertures in the lugs 156 to anchor the box-like enclosure 122 to the chassis.

Once the enclosure 122 is releasably attached to the chassis 10, it may be converted into a covered wagon 160 by first removing one of the end walls and then positioning a covered wagon type canopy 162 over the enclosure. The canopy 162 comprises a pair of spaced apart U-shaped supports 164 with canvas material 166 stretched between the supports. The free ends of each of the supports 164 are simply inserted into suitable holes 168 located in the side walls 124 of the box-like enclosure 122. A miniature seat 170 may also be positioned within the enclosure, as shown in FIGURE 8. The seat 170 fits into slots 172 located in each of the side walls 124 of the box-like enclosure.

FIGURE 9 illustrates another arrangement of the present invention wherein the box-like enclosure 122 is converted into a wrecker truck construction 180. The enclosure is fixed to the chassis 10 as described above and modified to form a wrecker truck by detachably securing a crane assembly 182 to the side walls 124. In this application of the invention, the miniature seat 170 may be positioned, as shown in FIGURE 9, and the handle portions 140 are in their telescoped position. The crane 182 comprises a transverse support plate 184 releasably attached to the side walls 124 by pins 186 that extend'into suitable apertures in the side walls. A transverse shaft 188 is journaled between the side walls 124 and has a crank arm 190 that extends through a slot 192 in one of the side walls. The shaft 188 carries a reel 194 for a cable 196 that runs from the reel upwardly through the transverse support plate 184 into a hollow crane boom 198 fixed to the support plate. The cable 196 has a hook 200' attached to its free end for securing the cable to an item to be lifted by the crane.

In operation, rotation of the crank arm 190 either winds the cable onto the reel 194 or allows it to unwind depending upon which direction the transverse shaft 188 is rotated. A lock 202 adjacent the crank arm 190 is fixed to the side wall 124 to lock the arm against rotation. The lock 202 is simply fixed to one of the clamps 138 that secure the tubular portions 136 to the side walls 124.

The chassis can also be converted to a baby seat arrangement 250 by attaching the box-like enclosure 122 to the body member 12, as explained above. The baby seat arrangement 250 comprises a backrest 252 that fits into the slots -128 in the side walls 124 of the box-like enclosure. The backrest 252 carries a safety belt 254 which extends from the backrest to the front portion of the seat where it can be clipped to an eyelet 256 to anchor the vehicle passenger to the framework of the arrangement. A canopy 258 may be provided to shade the occupant and has support rods 260 that fit within the same holes 168 that serve to secure one end of the covered wagon canopy. The baby seat arrangement 250 also includes a tray 262 having rods 264 that slide into holes 266 in the side walls 124 of the box-like structure. The rods 264 have cutout portions 268 so the tray 262 can be locked to the side walls 124, as explained below. Finally, the baby seat arrangement 250 includes two sets of block elements 270, 272 releasably attached to the box-like enclosure 122 by rods 274 that fit into the holes 168 in the side walls 124. The holes 168 and 266 are arranged so the rods 274 are disposed within the cutout portions 268 of the rods for the tray 262 when the tray and block sets are secured to the side walls 124.

The individual blocks of block set 270 have numerals and mathematical symbols on their side faces so the occ-upant of the vehicle can practice arithmetic. Numerous numerical combinations are available by simply rotating the blocks relative to each other to produce a correct equation. The blocks of set 272 are also mounted for relative movement and each block carries letters of the alphabet for producing numerous word combinations by rotating the blocks relative to each other.

What is claimed is:

1. A play toy comprising a chassis, a fixed wheel assembly attached to one end of the chassis, a retractable wheel assembly attached to the other end of the chassis for movement between retracted and nonretracted positions whereby the chassis is converted from a trailer to an independent vehicle toy, locking means for maintaining the retractable wheel assembly in its retracted and nonretracted positions, a fixed hitch means depending from the chassis forward of the retractable wheel assembly for connecting the chassis to suitable towing means, and attaching means provided on the chassis at least adjacent each end thereof for selectively releasably securing elements to the chassis for adapting the chassis to various trailer and independent hand-propelled or occupant-propelled vehicle forms.

2. A play toy as in claim 1 wherein the retractable wheel assembly comprises a bifurcated wheel mount,

hinge means for directly connecting the bifurcated wheel mount to the underside of the chassis, and a wheel journaled in the bifurcated portion of the wheel mount.

3. A play toy as in claim 1 including a handlebar element releasably secured to the attaching means on the chassis at one end thereof for producing a scooter when the retractable wheel assembly is in its nonretracted position.

4. A play toy as in claim 1 including a seat element releasably secured to the attaching means on the chassis at one end thereof, and a handlebar element secured to the attaching means on the chassis at the other end for producing a play car.

5. A play toy as in claim 1 including opposed side wall elements interconnected by a bottom element releasably secured to the attaching means on the chassis, an end wall element slidably disposed between the side wall elements and a pair of elongated handle elements, one secured to each of the side wall elements for producing a wheelbarrow.

6. A play toy as in claim 1 including opposed side wall elements interconnected by a bottom element releasably secured to the attaching means on the chassis, end wall elements slidably disposed between the side wall elements, one at each end thereof, and a crane element releasably attached to the side wall elements for producing a wrecker truck construction.

7. A play toy as in claim '1 including opposed side wall elements interconnected by a bottom element releasably secured to the attaching means on the chassis, a backrest element slidably disposed between the side wall elements at one end thereof, a tray element releasably attached to the side wall elements at the other end and sets of block elements releasably attached to the side wall elements for producing a baby seat.

8. A convertible play toy as in claim 1 wherein box, seat and handle elements are provided for alternate attachment to the chassis whereby it is adapted for use as different toys.

9. A play toy as in claim 1 wherein the retractable wheel assembly is nonpivotal.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,449,255 3/1923 Abrahams et al 280-7.1 1,457,972 6/1923 Gilbert 2807.1 1,662,292 3/1928 Bender 2807.1 2,518,032 8/1950 Le'wis 280--7.17 2,627,298 2/ 1953 Brown 280-71 2,768,834 10/1956- Wilson 2807.1 2,798,727 7/1957 Jensen et a1. 2807.17 1,472,164 10/1923 Gilbert 28()87.04 2,627,424 2/1953 Chapin 280-1505 3,100,120 8/1963 Cleary 28087.01

FOREIGN PATENTS 497,338 12/ 1938 Great Britain. 140,280 8/1930 Switzerland.

BENJAMIN HERSH, Primary Examiner.

MILTON L. SMITH, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 

